Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee suspended for game against San Antonio

By
Michael Lee

Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee have both been suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team and will miss the Wizards' game on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs. Blatche and McGee were involved in an altercation outside of an area club early Friday morning, in which two league sources said the starting frontcourt players exchanged curse words and punches. Another source said police were called to breakup the disruption.

A Wizards spokesperson said on Friday that it was "simply a disagreement between teammates," but a day later, President Ernie Grunfeld determined that the dispute went much deeper. "After further investigation into an incident on Thursday night, we concluded that Andray and JaVale conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner. As a result, both players will be suspended for tomorrow's game at San Antonio," Grunfeld said in a statement.

Blatche denied in a text message that the two had engaged in a fight, claiming that there was "only one push" to help them avoid some other disturbances within the club. No arrests were made and no one was injured during the dispute.

Blatche is the Wizards' leading scorer at 16.8 points per game and JaVale McGee is the team's leading rebounder at 8.3 per game. The Wizards have lost eight of their past nine games and are 0-13 on the road this season.

Damn,Damn,Damn!! If it "ain't" one thing with this team, it's another. And it ain't winning either! Makes it hard sometimes to be a Wiz fan. How DO we end up with these sorts of players. Are we the only team that goes through this or are we the only team who don't keep stuff in house? All I can say about this latest incident is WOW!

I'm guessing you didn't actually see the game, because Arenas wasn't exatly leading the charge. Brandon Bass, however, was a monster. I still don't get why SVG wasted him on the end of the bench for most of last season.

As for the suspension . . . this could be Saunders' window of opportunity to send a message to McGee and Blatche, that nothing is given and everything has to be earned.

DAMN - These guys have got to take control of their lives. I realize that they are wealthy, young, adult, male athletes who want to have a good time, but they have got to begin to understand that they are under a microscope; that nothing bad that they do goes unnoticed; and that Wizards management can not afford to tolerate being made to look foolish, AGAIN. In addition to being paid to play basketball, they are paid to represent the Wizards basketball team and the city of Washington, DC. Like it, or not, they are role-models for many, many kids. When they do something stupid like this, it almost negates all the good that they do for the community (and they do a lot). I hope that both JaVale and Andray learn something from this. They should both give Derek Jeter a call and find out how he manages to enjoy himself while staying out of the gossip columns in a town like New York City.

I know that the Wizards provide a seminar for new players to tell them how to adjust to a new life style, but is there anyone on the Wizards who provides any type of ongoing direction for these kids after they come into the league? Is there a mentoring program of any type? Or does the team just sign them up, throw $ at them and hope for the best?

This is not the 20th century where things were ignored, overlooked, and not reported (primarily because the teams were paying the freight for the reporters). As it has been pointed out previously, this is the age of instant information. If a public figure (and that is what JaVale and Andray are) so much as burps, someone has a tweet, posting, and video of the occasion. Message to all Wizards - If you don't want the world to know about something you are doing...DON'T DO IT.

NWDC3 is right - It is a pre-emptive strike by EG, and probably necessary in light of all the negative news that the Wizards have received in the past several years. The Wizards are trying to project a new image...this simply doesn't fit that image. However, I don't think that the incident is anything that would have evoked any action from Stern.

Under the microscope's got nothing to do with it. Doesn't matter if they're rock climbing in the desert or sailing the middle of the Indian Ocean with no one around for 1000 miles. A knucklehead is still a knucklehead, and drunken fighting and crying like women just isn't what men do, period.

Amazing that this happened outside a club right...WTF This guy will never get it. I'm happy Arenas as gone and I will be just as happy when this guy is gone. He is mentally challenged.. Trust me. All the skills in the world but just flat out undisciplined.

If you know all the sports writers have chronicled you as a club rat, then why not keep your dumb a** out of the club during the season?

Blatche will never grow up, move him if you can. Dallas has always liked him maybe Beaubois (sp) and a 1st would work. He could be great but his attitude is terrible.

McGee doesn't get it, on or off the court. Until he understands rebound and defense out rank blocks and dunks he should be coming off the bench. I'd much rather see Seraphin starting.

One of the players needs to step up and hold his teammates responsible for their play and work ethic since our coach can't seem to do it.

Flip isn't the right coach for a rebuild, he was bought here to mold a veteran team into a contender. Now all those vets are gone and he's out of his depth. Eg needs to find a defensive minded, hard nosed coach to get the mentality of this group where it needs to be.

So it looks like Mike Lee's 'multiple league sources' were pretty accurate after all. If charges had been filed, it would have had to go to the NBA office. But since they weren't, maybe the team's action will be enough.

Maybe. The NBA wouldn't have come down on Arenas so hard had he not staged that little protest in front of the Commish in Philly. Let's hope Blatche and McGee aren't planning on expressing their feelings where anyone might see them. And record it, no doubt, on a cell phone.

The folks who are at fault here are Blatche and McGee. Any consequences should be absorbed by Blatche and McGee. Any embarrassment suffered should be embarrassment to Blatche and McGee. And if disgruntled fans feel like booing somebody at games, why not boo Blatche and McGee?

Not having Beavis and Butthead will severely hamper the Bullets chances of winning in San Antonio tonight. With those guys, they probably would have won! Yeah Right! This is Bullets Basketball! We had a helluva season back in '78! Where's the cake? Bring the cake in! I'm so god damn proud of ya! Rod! OOOOOOOOOOOOOH Rod!

I swear to God, Washington, D.C. has some of the most unforgiving fans in sports.

Perhaps with a fanbase a sour & intolerant as we are, we don't deserve to have a winning team in any sport.

We can't stand any player's personality...

We refuse to keep perspective about their ages...

We have an "off with their heads" mentality about ALL mistakes, not just a stupid mock gunfight amongst teammates.

D.C. fans have no mercy, no understanding of youth-you would think all of the adults in the DMV had NEVER been twentysomethings.
~~~
You have 2 young, rich, vain, semi-famous ballplayers and ALCOHOL (and perhaps a lil' weed-who knows?). They are in a club with other people around including of course, females. Unless you just got on the planet-there's no way you can't see the potential for combustion with all of those elements.

Some will say "well,they shouldn't have been there!"

To which I say....yeah, good luck with that, remember what I just wrote....FEMALES ARE THERE!!

You have a better chance of seeing Dick Cheney host the Source Awards then you do of stopping a young, rich, famous pro athletes from chasing tail.

I wasn't even rich and I chased it all through my 20s and part of my 30s, so I know how I would do if I were a ballplayer.

The Wizards did the appropiate thing even though I always wonder how teams or rather player's unions allow it's members to fined or suspended for something that happened on their own time like this.

Let' just keep perspective.

BTW- what is it that's so unlikeable about Andray Blatche that anytime his name is mentioned, a veritable army of fans show up on these threads whose only solution for him is to get rid of him? Perhaps, you all need to do some maturing as well.

The Wizards finally get lucky with a draft pick, a high-schooler no less and some fans refuse to remember that he is a big-ass kid. Sorry folks, Blatche is just like the rest of us, he's going to mature on his timescale no one else.

You can't throw everyone overboard everytime they show their humanity.

"You have a better chance of seeing Dick Cheney host the Source Awards then you do of stopping a young, rich, famous pro athletes from chasing tail."

Not really the point. He can chase all the tail he wants. All we ask is that he puts at least as much time/energy/effort/focus/commitment into getting/staying in shape, improving his game, and showing some smarts and toughness on the court as he does gettin' busy off of it. So far, no good.

And the age thing is no longer an excuse. He's in his 5th year in the league. He's a vet. He should be moving into position to provide leadership to the young guys at this point, not still acting like a frat boy at homecoming. Pointing out that guys in their 20s often act immature is an empty argument, because not all guys in their 20s do so (certainly not to the extent that Blatche does) and it's usually the ones that don't that are most likely to succeed.

"Sorry folks, Blatche is just like the rest of us, he's going to mature on his timescale no one else."

Posted by: ArmchairGM | December 26, 2010 12:43 AM

Which, whether you realize it or not, actually strengthens, not weakens, the argument for getting rid of him.

"He hasn't screwed up yet, but it's coming, he is only 19-20 years old, after all."

Posted by: ArmchairGM | December 26, 2010 12:55 AM

A question that presumes that all 20 year olds will eventually do something colossally stupid that lands them afoul of the law. Which is, of course, nonsense. Moreover, the issue of Blatche's immaturity isn't confined to what happens on nights off. The real issue for fans is how his manifest immaturity off the court reflects his immatuity while "on the clock." To date, Wall has conducted himself with uncommon maturity between the lines, which suggests an attitude that will likely carry over. Blatche is just the opposite.

The bigger question is what are the odds that one of those guys lose there jobs now. I think Lewis will start at the 4 and it will be hard for Flip to bench him after that

Posted by: dlts2041 | December 26, 2010 1:16 AM

That is largely predicated on how well Rashard Lewis performs Sunday against the Spurs.

The smart psychological move IMO would be to start Blatche against Houston on Monday. If Dray plays poorly, Flip can justify moving him out of the lineup. However, if Blatche and/or McGee put up big numbers against the Rockets, they remain starters and this club incident will fade into the background.

Why in the world can't 2 teammates go to a club, have drinks, party and then go home?????

To get into any kind of argument with a teammate sounds like high school stuff...Immaturity is showing big time here...neither one can probably hold their liquor and then the male posturing in front of people comes into play...

Wouldn't have mattered anyway playing San Antonio today...they would have lost no matter who played....

It's arrogant to suggest another human being mature on YOUR time according to your morality and logic.

Do you have children? Wouldn't you like them to be more mature than they are at certain points of their lives? Are they? Well, what can you do about that-they are going to get there on their own time-your wishes be damned.

Did being older than Blatche stop Arenas and Crittenden from cutting up last year?

Kobe Bryant was judged an unlikeable, immature a-hole by so many folks just like you, did he stay immature?

That's what I mean by D.C. being undeserving of successful teams, If Kobe was on this team...he wouldn't be- because the instant he showed a flaw or immaturity or started snapping at teammates, most folks in the DMV would start up with the "he's a team cancer...he'll never mature....the team needs to get rid of him to send a message..." and so on.

~~~
You wrote:
To date, Wall has conducted himself with uncommon maturity between the lines, which suggests an attitude that will likely carry over. Blatche is just the opposite.
~~~

As I pointed out Wall isn't old enough to go to a club yet & get in that type of trouble, so unless you're from the future...WE'LL SEE COMPADRE, WE'LL SEE.

Wall is going to get into arguments with future girlfriends, teammates and coaches, he's a human, so it's going to happen.

Get my drift? We can't predict how John Wall's life/personality is going to be anymore than any one of us could predict that Lebron James was going to develop an unapologetically, villainous persona, after he SEEMED so mature beyond his years.
We know see James can be some combination of a total narcissist and a self-absorbed idiot.
~~~~

"Blatche is just the opposite"...

Exactly how do you know how Blatche is, how do you know what he's going to be in the future? Furthermore, what has this kid done that is so over the top "bad" that you have set your mind in stone about what he's going to be? Seriously, what has he done?

Now, let me ask you-are YOU being mature with your ideas about Blatche based on what you have seen in a mere 5 year snapshot of this young man's life?

You're either prescient, prejudiced or immature yourself.

(Please tell me you can predict the future & let me know what the lottery is going to be for the next few weeks. :-)

It's just my opinion, but your post, like so many others, is arrogant, judgmental, and haughty.

"A question that presumes that all 20 year olds will eventually do something colossally stupid that lands them afoul of the law. "

by kalorama
~~~~
There are a billion ways to "screw-up" that doesn't involve the law, homey.

All Wall has to do is live, trust me, he'll have his share of personal screw-ups.

You are so biased, all you can see is what Blatche does wrong, whatever that is to you while dismissing that Wall is an actual person replete with flaws, personality quirks and the ability to make a mistake.

Fans such as yourself appear to be suckers for these sports leagues and the media tells you what think about certain athletes... some are so flawed that can never redeem themselves, while others are so perfect they can never make a mistake.

pentagon40 wrote:
...neither one can probably hold their liquor and then the male posturing in front of people comes into play...

Exactly. These are two young uns' who let alchohol and ego get the best of them. They'll get it together and there's no need to get rid of either.

D.C. area sports fans have to let go of this fantasy idea of perfect players, who don't sass the coach, don't get on each other's nerves and don't make personal mistakes.

How many Pro athletes are Washington fans going to try to run off before they get the point?

Let's see we got rid of Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber & Rod Strickland among others, not because they couldn't play, but because we decided we didn't like their flaws.
Where did that get us? Oh yeah, into the lottery where we picked...Kwame Brown, a poster child for immaturity. So after a few years of him, we get....Arenas, with his immaturity. You can run but you can't hide-there are no Stepford Athletes.

Blatche is too good a scorer to just declare he's going to be a certain way forever and run him off. I always say he's a poor mans Tim Duncan, but actually though Duncan is a far better player, Blatche is more lithe and agile around the basket than Duncan. Don't give up on him because he's still young, Lebron James has been the NBA 7 years, is he the paragon of maturity?

Really, I could rip that to shreds with a minimal amount of effort, but I'd rather sit back and savor the irony of someone who accuses others of having
unrealistic opinions of players while declaring that (A) Lebron James has "develop(ed) an unapologetically, villainous persona" and (B) Blatche is more "lithe and agile around the basket" than Tim Duncan.

If Grunfield has any, I would be looking to trade Blanche. He is a one on one player anyway. Does not play team ball and is a cancer to this team. Trust me this is not the last you will hear about Blanche involved in something, even if just sulking on the bench when things don't go his way. Trade hime now and move forward Ray

Blatche and McGee trigger outrage because they disrespect the game. It's remarkable how many opponents comment on their softness, low basketball IQ and waste of talent. The players know how hard it is to get to and stay in the league and are offended. Iverson got into plenty of alleged trouble. Opponents never questioned his heart and guts.

AB and JM are not evil, just oblivious.
If they love the game, it's hard for the paying customers to see it. They may improve some of their skills but it's unlikely they will turn into winners. Changing teams might help but nowadays the better teams take character into account before investing millions. It's easy to see Blatche and McGee on the Kings and Clippers. They're probably not future members of the Spurs, Celtics or Thunder.

Can't think of an example of similar players turning it around in 45 years of watching the league. Less talented role players do it all the time. But it takes a long time for players who think they're better than they are to get it. Maybe they will still be in the league when it happens. Maybe they will be in Mongolia.

All I know, as a season ticket holder, I'm sick of shelling out money to an organization that has no clue about developing players. I don't think even the Wiz can ruin John Wall, but I'm not totally sure.

This suspension was EG's way to see how the team fair without AB. The fact that AB is the teams leading scorer should increase his trade value but don't count on it. The final negative hold over after the "EG break up". He needs a change of scenery as well. Probably somewhere like OKC or Sac! Where ever he lands, hope he grows up and does well!

"Blatche denied in a text message that the two had engaged in a fight, claiming that there was 'only one push' to help them avoid some other disturbances within the club"

A claim that quickly proved to be untrue. This is known colloquially as "compounding the felony".

Nobody's saying this guy has to be more than human, or even more than the 24-year-old he is. Of course he's gonna screw up. But excelling in faking out opponents on-court doesn't entitle anyone to similarly "juke and fake" his way through life. He needs to make sure he doesn't start setting a pattern with this stuff, because life is a tough ref.

Interestingly, in the print version, right above this little clip is the last page of a three-page spread about UMD football player Torrey Smith, a young man of indisputably sterling character -- dreadlocks and all. Who stays out of trouble spots, doesn't even drink in fact.

And his mom, no stranger to trouble herself, nevertheless set one golden rule for her son: "Tell the truth and I'll work with you. Lie, and you get a beating."

For that stupid fib, they get a one-day rest, the merest swat on the tookus. Let's hope there's no next time -- but if there is, see Rule 1 above.

LeBron was right!!! If the league contracted back to a reasonable amount of teams [24] then bozoz like Blatche and McGee would NEVER be an issue. They would NEVER play!! Each guy would be buried so deep that they would be fringe players at best.

Suspended for tomorrows game in SAS.. That's some SERIOUS discipline.. yes sir!
The one and only reason Grunfeld suspended is because the truth came out publicly. Yesterday the "Front Office Spinners".. (AND some are here commenting/spinning in the Post to protect Grunfeld) said... Nah, "Nothing happened, we are in complete control" haha.
Let's repeat it, The one and only reason Grunfeld suspended is because the truth came out publicly!
Bad drafts, bad trades, bad contracts (Blatche for FIVE YEARS????)guns in the locker room, drunks, losers, inadequate medical staff along with all the losing are the trademark of this franchise since Grunfeld & Co. have been in charge. Rest assured people that all this will continue and that it WILL NOT CHANGE UNTIL GRUNFELD & Co. ARE GONE! The Culture of Losers and Losing continues.
Ted WAKE UP! This Front Office is fronting and blowing smoke up your a*s.
Five years to this loser; the fat, drunk Blatche.. Grunfeld is a dinosaur.

I swear to God, Washington, D.C. has some of the most unforgiving fans in sports.

Perhaps with a fanbase a sour & intolerant as we are, we don't deserve to have a winning team in any sport.

We can't stand any player's personality...

We refuse to keep perspective about their ages...

We have an "off with their heads" mentality about ALL mistakes, not just a stupid mock gunfight amongst teammates
Posted by: ArmchairGM | December 26, 2010 12:43 AM

I can understand and appreciate a lot of what you posted today. I don't think I've heard anyone explain some of the fan rationale in that way but I have had some similar thoughts. I may slightly disagree with you about some of the ages making the mistakes understandable. Some things people just know better and this is a time when being "hard" gets folks perceived repect. I think each situation is unique and should be judged as so. I think fans tend to paint everything/everyone with a broad brush because you get to feel like you know it all. Or "I saw that coming" No one wants to be wrong about anything or admit it.

I do thinks there is a serious problem with a lot of general fans though. It's hard to tolerate the amount of sinasicm and if any player tries to convey that in the nicest way possible, watch how he gets ripped. Unfortunatley it seems as though sports has become an outlet for many to let all of the contempt they have for any given behavior in life.

Grown men should not be that affected emotionally by what these athletes do. They also should be more humble than to microscopicly pick apart every decision these peole make when you yourself will not have to prove how you would conduct yourself in each of those situations.

Get rid of Blatche, McGee, Nick Young, and the rest of the losers. Replace them with the best of the NBA Developmental League (seriously, they're good), and some internationals and you will make the playoffs.

Require all future DC players have a clean criminal and drug record and ... basic literacy. And let's get back to calling them the "Bullets."

"Grown men should not be that affected emotionally by what these athletes do. They also should be more humble than to microscopicly pick apart every decision these peole make when you yourself will not have to prove how you would conduct yourself in each of those situations.I just don't want sports to be an outlet for hate.
Posted by: gmac78"

I hate to break it to ya, but sports has been an outlet for hate for centuries.

You've obviously never spent an afternoon on a football train to Wembley. Or in the stands at a match in El Salvador.

I know the original Olympics was an alternative to war. But somehow that attitude never made it to the modern arena.

"You are so biased, all you can see is what Blatche does wrong, whatever that is to you while dismissing that Wall is an actual person replete with flaws, personality quirks and the ability to make a mistake."

Posted by: ArmchairGM

Well, of course he is. But you're employing a classic debate trick. The issue isn't Wall's behavior, it's that of McGee and Blatche. Your opinion seems to be the old 'boys will be boys' argument. Next you'll be insisting they need to sow their wild oats. Oh wait, you already used that one ("..FEMALES).

So for all the grand sentiment, I'd say in the end you're just making excuses for the boys.

I wonder why you bother. So far nobody's been charged with anything; nobody's out on bail; the NBA hasn't weighed in. They're out a single game check. Some fans are ticked off, but what do you expect given the experiences of last season? It's not like Blatche and McGee weren't here for that insanity. They know the franchise' rep took a mighty hit. They know the new owner is a good guy who isn't trying to cheat them. So why did act in such a way as to embarrass the team and (hopefully) themselves?

You know the answer to that -- because they were drunk and didn't give a sh**.

How do you defend that? You can't. They were jerks. If you were 22 or 24 years old and did the same thing, I'd say you were a jerk, too.

Well,Well,Well, I am shocked that drinking and fighting occurred outside a DC nightclub between two bright and upcoming stars of the NBA (LMAO!!). I would have sent both of them to the D-League for a week (or longer) just to let them get a taste of real life. The fault of this incident lies at the feet of Ernie Grunfeld for giving a jackazz like Andray Blatche a contract extension, Blatche is immature and has the basketball IQ of a fly. The problem with McGee, Blatche and other young athlete's no matter the sport is that they all have this sense of entitlement not all of them mind you but too many to suit my taste and because of the player's union coach''s dare not challenge the player for fear of "losing the locker room" or worse getting fired. The Wizard's brought this on themselves by "cleaning house" last season; getting rid of Butler,Jamison,Haywood and Stevenson was supposed to give us a clean slate all it gave us was some of the worst basketball this city has seen in twenty years.

So these guys are only 22 and 24 and that excuses this behavior? Baloney. I "celebrated my 21st birthday at Great Lakes US Naval training center; bootcamp. Irrespective of age, you behave like that in the military and you suffer more than a one game suspension. I was in the Navy during the Viet Nam war and many teenagers and young adults had a lot of resposibility thrust upon them. Their comrades lives often depended on the maturity and good sense of these young men especially in the Marines and the Army.A cousin of mine in his early 20's piloted helicopters charged with rescuing injured soldiers and marines from the jungle and he was near the age of these spoiled brats. I don't want to hear that we cannot expect 22 and 24 year old guys to behave in a mature manner. That is pure hogwash. Make then run until they lose their lunch. Show them that the ramifications of such behavior are manifold and serious.

Posted by: gimmedat "
=========================================
Weren't they coming off the bench before Ernie traded all the "Adults" away the last couple of years? The Wizards need a disciplinarian coach that will teach the fundamentals, like a "young" Larry Brown, to a young team. Too bad there is no one out there like that right now.

What goes on in this board is kid stuff compared to that fanaticism. Those fans are crazy.

In Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia...worldwide...just nuts.

Posted by: SteveMG | December 26, 2010 11:15 AM

No I understand and you both make a good point in regards to soccer overseas etc... I guess my statement was more based on observations here on a more everday scale. Also I am glad that we here are not as bad and dsiplaying the tolerated racist gestures seen @soccer games overseas.

It's not just blogs I'm speaking of. The attitudes are displayed amongst ourselves in groups at the barbershop or at work. The funny part is that too many masquerade like good sensable folks who mind there own business and don't "hate on nobody".

Are you guys saying that's the way it is and indulging in the negativity?(not you two per say) Just accept it?

Well I have accepted it. I'm no stranger to a negative environment. What I am saying is that I don't have to like it.

Samson I will apologize if I am mischaracterizing you, but as I have read this board I can tell that you get irritated by the anti-management sentiment on here. That's fine, in the same manner it's hard to tolerate the hatred for these young guys that play for this or that team. I read numerous post of people repeating there dislike for this or that person, sometimes calling name but there are probably two or three usual posters who may call one out for that. Yet, let someone praise or defend a player and watch how many comments roll in refuting you or pointing out the negative side of said player.

It's a tolerated practice and each persons right to but I don't have to like it or participate in it.

DMoney28: "Dallas has always liked him maybe Beaubois (sp) and a 1st would work."

I live in Dallas, and can assure you the Mavs never would go for that. They absolutely love Beaubois, they think he's a future star. I'd bet everything they wouldn't even trade him straight up for Blatche.

What!? McGee's horrible. The only thing is does energetically is that stupid salute he gives every time he makes an uncontested dunk in a meaningless game. Like most of the Grund-finds on the Wizards, we doubt whether McGee (the son, not the mother, who was exceptional, BTW) could make the roster of any competitive Euro league team: he can't dribble, ball-handle, pass, shoot, or man-up on defense. Yes, McGee takes up space in the middle but so does my car.

Get rid of this dreck and get some hardnosed, prison-rules D-leaguers, and some euros, and you WILL win.

"I do thinks there is a serious problem with a lot of general fans though. It's hard to tolerate the amount of sinasicm and if any player tries to convey that in the nicest way possible, watch how he gets ripped. ... Posted by: gmac78 | December 26, 2010 10:07 AM"
________________

We "do thinks" there's a serious problem with grammar and spelling ("sinasicm") among 'Dre and McGee fans. Just sayin'.

"I live in Dallas, and can assure you the Mavs never would go for that. They absolutely love Beaubois, they think he's a future star. I'd bet everything they wouldn't even trade him straight up for Blatche.Posted by: DC2Dallas"

I like Beaubois, too, but his timetable is all screwed up. This was to be the year of decision about his future, and instead he's been hurt. It's almost January and they still don't have a date for his probable return. The way the team's been playing to date, if somebody made the right attractive offer, I think Dallas would jump. A bird in the hand, so to speak, in the form of a healthy player.

No, seriously, samson. The formula today seems to be one or two name superstars, a hardnoser, a role player, and a euro (who will run, pass, shoot, and play D and leave the trash talking and criminal activity to others), see Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, etc. Let's give it a try.

Just imagine the kind of hanger-ons around Blatche and McGee. I want to see video of that. VH-1 does too. Blatche was suspended last season for conduct detrimental to the team, and it didn't stop EG from giving him a new deal. If one of them has to go, then both should go.

All you Wizards fans who think John Wall has a spotless record must be forgetting that he got in trouble for breaking and entering two years ago. I know because I go to school in NC, so maybe it was under the radar here. One the whole, what you (and America as a whole) are really asking is for 20 year olds who grew up in "urban" environments and in many cases, with few role models to be role models themselves. This doesnt happen overnight. Blatche has made strides since being drafted and McGee has as well, but they won't turn into Mother Theresa just because they were thrust into the NBA. That being said, no, asking them to behave responsibly isnt to much to ask, and yes they were at fault for the incident and should be held accountable, but lets keep it in perspective. I'm just 20 years old myself and I've made my fair share of mistakes thus far in life. To borrow a phrase from Barrack Obama, in no way should these "teachable moments" be viewed a death sentence.

The formula today seems to be one or two name superstars, a hardnoser, a role player, and a euro (who will run, pass, shoot, and play D and leave the trash talking and criminal activity to others), see Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, etc. Let's give it a try.

Posted by: broadwayjoe | December 26, 2010 1:07 PM | Report abuse

one or two name superstars...Lewis and Wall?

a hardnoser Howard?

a role player Kirk?

and a euro (who will run, pass, shoot)

Then only thing the Wizards need to compete for a championship is to get OP back?

Patience everyone...the true personality of any player comes out in the end...Give Blatche 2 more years and we will know all we need to know...Personally, it seems he lacks motivation when things are not going his way on the court...For the money he is being paid you would think he would suck it up and just play harder, but I attribute a lot of this to immaturity....

But how long can you act immature..posters note he is only 24..ok...but 2 more years should show us exactly what to expect in the future...

"... Then only thing the Wizards need to compete for a championship is to get OP back?

Posted by: bulletsfan78

Think he means a good euro. not Pecherov, not Seraphin.. which is another horrible aspect of our team, the scouting...
How many more inferior things can be said about these inferior front office types (without cynicism)?
let us count the ways...
so PLEASE... Wake Up TED!

The team lacks veteran leadership. Maybe it will come from Howard or S'hard but it sure as hell won't come Wall or Hinrich. Probably need bench Blatche for 2nd team til he learns his minutes are earned on the floor. Doesn't seems like he respects Flip anyways but Flip doesn't seem to be a firm hand coach so those guys apear to do whatever they want, Wouldn't be surprised if they started checking themselves inn and out of games!

I told all of you years ago that Grunfeld has no business running this franchise but nooooooooooo i was crazy and delusional and some other names that i won't mention. Ted Leonsis is not going to fire Grunfeld think about it they are all probably members of the same country club. This is only the tip of the iceberg where problems are concerned, if you remember Wall got into trouble last year at Kentucky for criticizing the head coach John Callipari how long before he opens his mouth and inserts his foot? It will take years to undo the damage that Grunfeld has done to this team.

I told all of you years ago that Grunfeld has no business running this franchise but nooooooooooo i was crazy and delusional and some other names that i won't mention. Ted Leonsis is not going to fire Grunfeld think about it they are all probably members of the same country club. This is only the tip of the iceberg where problems are concerned, if you remember Wall got into trouble last year at Kentucky for criticizing the head coach John Callipari how long before he opens his mouth and inserts his foot? It will take years to undo the damage that Grunfeld has done to this team.

It's not about whether Blatche likes to party and chase skirts. Jordan and Barkley enjoyed both quite a bit. It's not about whether Blatche is a self-important, egotistical ass. Kobe and Lebron are both guilty of that on a daily basis. It's about whether he allows his questionable off-court habits and personality traits to negatively impact what he does on the court. The others didn't. Blatche does. He can be a lazy, self-important jerk off the court all he wants. Problem is, he's a lazy self-important jerk on the court, and that hurts the team.

Blatche is in his 5th year. The notion that there's an unlimited amount of time to wait for him to grow up is nonsense. All the guff about players maturing "on their own schedule" blindly ignores the realities of the working world. When someone hires you to do a job and pays you real money to do it, then as soon as you start cashing the checks, you're on the boss's schedule, not your own. And if you fail to meet that schedule, they have every right to can your ass and give the job to someone who can. That's reality.

The arrival of John Wall sets a very clear schedule for the Wizards team and organization. They need to make measurable progress towards being a legit NBA team between now and the time Wall can become a FA or risk getting Lebron-ed. That gives them roughly three years. At his current pace, the odds of Blatche pulling his head out of his ass don't look good.

"I like Beaubois, too, but his timetable is all screwed up. This was to be the year of decision about his future, and instead he's been hurt. It's almost January and they still don't have a date for his probable return. The way the team's been playing to date, if somebody made the right attractive offer, I think Dallas would jump. A bird in the hand, so to speak, in the form of a healthy player."

Posted by: Samson151 | December 26, 2010 12:56 PM

I've never understood the hype surrounding Beaubois. To me he's a poor man's Monta Ellis, an undersized SG gunner with no real PG skills whose size makes him a defensive liability at the 2. A nice role player maybe, but not worth all the attention/anticipation.

"To borrow a phrase from Barrack Obama, in no way should these "teachable moments" be viewed a death sentence."

Posted by: DCSportsFan89 | December 26, 2010 1:57 PM

How many "teachable moments" has Blatche had in the last 5 years, between the shooting, the reckless driving arrest, the multiple suspended license citations, the solicitation arrest, and now the club incident? After almost every one he gave some public lip service to learning from the experience and changing his life/habits. But here's the thing: he hasn't. He hasn't learned a damn thing. He keeps making the same mistakes over and over. One of the hallmarks of maturity is learning from your mistakes. Blatche has shown no inclination to do so. At some point there's no choice but to conclude that he won't. At least not here.

Glad we're going to lynch Ernie and Flip for a 24 year old acting like a 24 year old. Makes perfect sense. Too bad we couldn't also blame it on the cancer which is Gilbert Arenas. (Btw, this is sarcasm for all those who missed Samson's sarcasm above.)

Predicting that a young kid is never going to learn from his mistakes is absurd, even for you, kalorama. Some folks require more mistakes to learn than others. That doesn't mean they won't. Welcome to life.

As for basketball, does anyone know why the Bullets didn't stagger the suspensions since they were done in-house? Why couldn't Blatche miss one game and then McGee miss the next game. In the interest of delivering a decent game for the fans in SA, at the very least.

On another note, how unintentionally funny is Al Thorton? Already known as "the wildest man in the NBA" according to Shane Battier, then he gets hit by a car walking to practice, and then hit by cops breaking up a fight. He's like the OJ character in the Naked Gun movies.

A lot of overreaction. I view this as a good thing. Rashard Lewis will get some major minutes, with Booker backing him up. Armstrong and Seraphin at center. Meanwhile, McGee and Blatche get reminded that they can easily be replaced. I think the Wizards will win tonight.

This franchise is a joke. The players care not on bit about their professional image or that of the team. This is a product of the team sucking as bad as it has for so many years and the marketing professionals building their on the so-called personalities of these irresponsible individuals.

It is time for the entire management team and most of the players to go. Socrech the earth and start over. Again. Why not? It simply cannot get any worse on or off the court. Who really likes this organziation, the team, the staff, the players anyway?

Get rid of Blatche, McGee, Nick Young, and the rest of the losers. Replace them with the best of the NBA Developmental League (seriously, they're good), and some internationals and you will make the playoffs.

Require all future DC players have a clean criminal and drug record and ... basic literacy. And let's get back to calling them the "Bullets."

Posted by: broadwayjoe | December 26, 2010 10:18 AM | Report abuse
___________________________________
This comment is a prime example why I have a hard time taking anyone serious on here. If you look at this comment I can determine two things:
1) this person doesn't watch the games and
2) knows nothing about the team and is probably racist.

Nick Young has been easily the best player on the team this year. As much as I hate to admit, I wanted him gone, but he is playing great. He is scoring consistently and playing outstanding defense. On top of that he has NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE!!! So why would you get rid of him? Silly overreaction!

"Predicting that a young kid is never going to learn from his mistakes is absurd, even for you, kalorama. Some folks require more mistakes to learn than others. That doesn't mean they won't."

Posted by: Urnesto | December 26, 2010 5:02 PM

Doesn't mean they will either. The simple fact is that some people never learn from their mistakes. They keep making them until someone puts them in a position where they can't make them any more (or at least they can't screw up anyone else's life by making them). There's just as much reason to believe that Blatche won't grow out of this as as there is to believe he will. More, actually, because he already has an established history of not learning from his mistakes (the kind of mistakes that frequently result in people changing their lives around), meaning that there's no reason other than hope/faith to think that'll suddenly change (at least in time for it to matter to the Wiz). As always, the past remains the best predictor of the future.

All of which is, of course, irrelevant. Because the issue isn't whether Blatche will eventually learn from his mistakes, it's whether the Wizards--5+ years into his career, already under scrutiny from the league, Stern, and the public because of Arenas, and with the John Wall clock ticking--can afford to wait for him to learn. I say "no." Your mileage may vary.

It's time to stop blaming Blatche's indiscretions on his youth. He has been in trouble from the time he was drafted: he was shot while he was out; he tried to pick up a policewoman disguised as a hooker, etc., etc., and now this. I don't remember McGee doing dumb stuff while clubbing early in the morning until he was out with - we all know who. The Wiz need players who treat their enormous talents well and play hard. The Wiz do not need players who treat their talent and enormous levels of compensation as an opportunity for extravagent clubbing and other fruitless self-absorbing activities. Common sense comes early to many - never to others.

I'm sorry that I can't give a name, but one of the guys on a sports station says these guys have to understand that it's a privilege to be paid such outrageous to play basketball AND is such a small portion of their lifetimes. Some players should value and respect that privilege more than they do.

You can not dismiss this on their age, Did Tim Duncan come out of college and act damn fool. Has Lebron gotten into fights at night clubs, not that I know of. I am so sick and tired of hearing about and excusing these idiot ball players when they can not control there temper or alcohol consumption. Alcohol, women and money may be a bad combination and if you know this then why put yourself in that position. Trade them get them out of the league.....PERIOD

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